Welcome P31 Encouragement for Today Readers. I am glad you came over for a visit. Be sure to leave a comment below if you'd like to be entered to win one of two signed copies of my latest book, "Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl." Or if you'd like to go ahead and order your own copy, you can do that by clicking here.
Do you ever feel consumed with fear?
For me, one of my greatest fears has been that something will happen to one of my children. Whatever your greatest fears are, I have learned to make a choice to get intentional when I feel fear creeping into my heart. I pray. I read God’s truths. I verbalize my trust in Him. And I make the choice to walk in assurance.
Does it mean my fears won't ever come to pass? Does this mean nothing bad will ever happen to my children? No. Does it mean that my heart can finally find peace past the fears that could consume me? Yes.
The next time you find yourself being pulled into fear, try these steps:
Pray -
We should pray honestly to God telling Him what we are afraid of and asking Him to help us not live in this fear. I ask Him for His protection over whatever I fear. But I also ask God to fill my heart with the rich blessing of His perspective so that no matter what, I will be reassured.
Read God’s Truths -
Matthew 18:10 is a really amazing verse: "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Do children really have guardian angels? I was always hesitant to think this because it seemed mystical and new age-ish. But here it is in God’s Word!
Not only do my children have a guardian angel that has direct access to God but because I am a child of God, I must have one as well! Think about this for a minute. God has assigned an angel to guard over our children and us every minute of every day. And there is never a second where God does not know what is going on with us. Knowing this, we are ready for what we must do next.
Verbalize My Trust in Him -
Isaiah 54:10 says, "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken." This reminds us that God’s love is too pure not to have our best interest in mind.
Pause for a minute and let’s state that profound truth again. God’s love for me, my children, my husband, my family, and my friends is too pure not to have our best interest in mind. If I really believed this with all my heart, I could completely trust God.
That’s how we can process the fact that bad things sometimes do happen and still trust. I think we struggle at not fully trusting God because we know the realities of this world. Parents trust God and children still go missing, choke, get cancer, and die in car accidents. This is hard to reconcile apart from understanding God’s love.
God’s love is complete and able to transcend the here and now. God sees an eternal picture that we’ll never understand on this side of eternity. God is all-knowing and fully compassionate. Therefore, we can trust that even when the outcome seems tragic to us, it is still in the best interest of the one He loves. I’m convinced He allows one thing, to save that person from that which is so much worse.
Knowing this, I can say out loud, “God You are bigger than my fears. And no matter what I will continue to trust You and your perfect plan. Therefore I make the choice to reject the paralyzing feeling of fear so I can walk confidently in the truth of Your assurance.”
Walk in Assurance -
When I look back on a tragedy my family faced, I can now trace God’s goodness through it. And amazingly, it is well with my soul. Through it all God has brought me to a sweet place of intimacy with Jesus that I would not want to trade. Though the circumstances of my childhood were rotten, God’s plan throughout my childhood was good and perfect. I see that now and my trust in Him grows stronger still.
I can now face every one of my fears with a new found confidence. While I can’t control the events of my life, I can rest assured in God’s amazing love for me and my loved ones. So even when I face times I don’t understand His hand, I can always trust His heart.
Dear Lord, help me find that peaceful trust in You. Assure me of Your love. Reveal your goodness in every situation. Give me just enough wisdom to process all that I must face and just enough perspective to keep my mind fixed on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
To enter to win a copy of "Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl," click on the word comments below and follow the prompts. Or to go ahead and order your copy today, click here.
Do you ever feel consumed with fear?
For me, one of my greatest fears has been that something will happen to one of my children. Whatever your greatest fears are, I have learned to make a choice to get intentional when I feel fear creeping into my heart. I pray. I read God’s truths. I verbalize my trust in Him. And I make the choice to walk in assurance.
Does it mean my fears won't ever come to pass? Does this mean nothing bad will ever happen to my children? No. Does it mean that my heart can finally find peace past the fears that could consume me? Yes.
The next time you find yourself being pulled into fear, try these steps:
Pray -
We should pray honestly to God telling Him what we are afraid of and asking Him to help us not live in this fear. I ask Him for His protection over whatever I fear. But I also ask God to fill my heart with the rich blessing of His perspective so that no matter what, I will be reassured.
Read God’s Truths -
Matthew 18:10 is a really amazing verse: "See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.
Do children really have guardian angels? I was always hesitant to think this because it seemed mystical and new age-ish. But here it is in God’s Word!
Not only do my children have a guardian angel that has direct access to God but because I am a child of God, I must have one as well! Think about this for a minute. God has assigned an angel to guard over our children and us every minute of every day. And there is never a second where God does not know what is going on with us. Knowing this, we are ready for what we must do next.
Verbalize My Trust in Him -
Isaiah 54:10 says, "Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken." This reminds us that God’s love is too pure not to have our best interest in mind.
Pause for a minute and let’s state that profound truth again. God’s love for me, my children, my husband, my family, and my friends is too pure not to have our best interest in mind. If I really believed this with all my heart, I could completely trust God.
That’s how we can process the fact that bad things sometimes do happen and still trust. I think we struggle at not fully trusting God because we know the realities of this world. Parents trust God and children still go missing, choke, get cancer, and die in car accidents. This is hard to reconcile apart from understanding God’s love.
God’s love is complete and able to transcend the here and now. God sees an eternal picture that we’ll never understand on this side of eternity. God is all-knowing and fully compassionate. Therefore, we can trust that even when the outcome seems tragic to us, it is still in the best interest of the one He loves. I’m convinced He allows one thing, to save that person from that which is so much worse.
Knowing this, I can say out loud, “God You are bigger than my fears. And no matter what I will continue to trust You and your perfect plan. Therefore I make the choice to reject the paralyzing feeling of fear so I can walk confidently in the truth of Your assurance.”
Walk in Assurance -
When I look back on a tragedy my family faced, I can now trace God’s goodness through it. And amazingly, it is well with my soul. Through it all God has brought me to a sweet place of intimacy with Jesus that I would not want to trade. Though the circumstances of my childhood were rotten, God’s plan throughout my childhood was good and perfect. I see that now and my trust in Him grows stronger still.
I can now face every one of my fears with a new found confidence. While I can’t control the events of my life, I can rest assured in God’s amazing love for me and my loved ones. So even when I face times I don’t understand His hand, I can always trust His heart.
Dear Lord, help me find that peaceful trust in You. Assure me of Your love. Reveal your goodness in every situation. Give me just enough wisdom to process all that I must face and just enough perspective to keep my mind fixed on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
To enter to win a copy of "Becoming More than a Good Bible Study Girl," click on the word comments below and follow the prompts. Or to go ahead and order your copy today, click here.
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